89001 possibly returning to service

[TravisM]

I heard something interesting yesterday from a LNER driver who claimed that LNER had approached the owners of 89001 with a proposal to return it to service. He claimed that due the constant issues with the Class 91’s it possibly cheaper to get the badger back into service than constantly hiring in DBC Class 90’s with their 110mph top speed.

 

I’m somewhat sceptical about this but stranger things have happened. Anyone able to confirm or deny this?

Edited December 30, 2018 by jools1959

[Bucoops]

I heard something interesting yesterday from a LNER driver who claimed that LNER had approached the owners of 89001 with a proposal to return it to service. He claimed that due the constant issues with the Class 91’s it possibly cheaper to get the badger back into service than constantly hiring in DBC Class 90’s.

 

I’m somewhat sceptical about this but stranger things have happened. Anyone able to confirm or deny this?

 

Deja Vu - GNER did that. Hope there's some truth in it, but not sure where they are with the refurb?

[4630]

Deja Vu - GNER did that. Hope there's some truth in it, but not sure where they are with the refurb?

This is the latest update on the work on 89001.

 

https://aclocogroup.co.uk/news.php

[Bucoops]

Ooh, that's come along a lot since I last looked.

[Dava]

Bring back The Badger! IC livery please.

[jjb1970]

I would like to be wrong, but I really can't see that pressing a 30 years old one off (in technology terms its an antique) into main line service being at all viable.

[Metr0Land]

I would like to be wrong, but I really can't see that pressing a 30 years old one off (in technology terms its an antique) into main line service being at all viable.

There was a business case for 59.003 (admittedly it had been in use most of the time it was away from these shores). I know, I know, I can't believe the 59's are over 30 years old either.

[jjb1970]

The 59's also largely utilise standard EMD machinery and electrical equipment, one of the big bonus points of EMD has always been ease of product support.

[black and decker boy]

Can’t see the point. By the time the 89 was fully fit, recertified and drivers retrained, the first IETs should be in service releasing some pressure on the HST & IC225 fleets. I think LNER are still saying spring for IET passenger service though whether you believe them is something different.

 

The 89 must be 3 to 6 months from being capable of front line service even if you throw six or seven figure suns at it.

[Dan Griffin]

I would like to be wrong, but I really can't see that pressing a 30 years old one off (in technology terms its an antique) into main line service being at all viable.

It may be seen as an 'antique' to some, but remember that 'Antique' has the TDM and electrical systems that can talk to MK4 coaching stock.

 

and as an aside, how dare you say that something from 1986 is an antique, I come from 1986 and am not an antique!!    

Edited December 30, 2018 by Dan Griffin

[Dan Griffin]

Can’t see the point. By the time the 89 was fully fit, recertified and drivers retrained, the first IETs should be in service releasing some pressure on the HST & IC225 fleets. I think LNER are still saying spring for IET passenger service though whether you believe them is something different.

 

The 89 must be 3 to 6 months from being capable of front line service even if you throw six or seven figure suns at it.

I wouldn't bet on that if I were you, LNER has suspended the introduction of the IET's indefinitely on the ECML due to a number of factors that I cannot divulge on here but have been or will be in the railway press soon enough.

[Bomag]

I would like to be wrong, but I really can't see that pressing a 30 years old one off (in technology terms its an antique) into main line service being at all viable.

 

The 89 is about the same age (in terms of technology) as 90's and 91's. The bits which need major attention - Tration Motors I believe - have simularities with Class 92's

 

One of the identifed problem with the Class 90's is the greater risk of missing slots through Welwyn, even on the slowed diagrams. Being rated at 125mph and having a greater max TE than the 91's the 89 should reduce that risk.

[Bucoops]

Really want this to happen! The owners have relevant experience in loco rental too...

[jim.snowdon]

The 89 is about the same age (in terms of technology) as 90's and 91's. The bits which need major attention - Tration Motors I believe - have simularities with Class 92's

 

One of the identifed problem with the Class 90's is the greater risk of missing slots through Welwyn, even on the slowed diagrams. Being rated at 125mph and having a greater max TE than the 91's the 89 should reduce that risk.

The traction technology of the 89 almost certainly has much more in common with that of the class 60, with its separately excited DC traction motors, despite the differences in the source of the electrical power. The 92s have three-phase AC traction motors.

 

Jim

[jjb1970]

I think that people should consider the state of 80's technology relative to today. DC traction packages, discrete circuits, electro-mechanical controls, very primitive software. The market for EMD spares and aftersales support is big enough to keep product support going for decades, both from EMD and an array of third party specialists. The 89 was a one off.

[newbryford]

 The 89 was a one off.

 

And ISTR spent some (of it's "normal") time out of service awaiting parts because there were no spares for this unique loco.

[mdvle]

Bring back The Badger! IC livery please.

 

No thanks, give it a nice unique LNER livery to provide additional selling opportunities to help make a nice new modern model of it more likely.

[TravisM]

And ISTR spent some (of it's "normal") time out of service awaiting parts because there were no spares for this unique loco.

I believe the last it was withdrawn was water ingress into one or more traction motors, the first time was replacing a smoothing choke and BR refused to pay the £15k to replace it.

[Ken.W]

Well, this is the first that I've heard of it, although that doesn't really mean much!

I'd be suprised if it was though;

91119 now back in service after it's prolonged major repairs

Class 90s on regular hire

Driver training program at full stretch for the Satsumas (well, will be when Hitachi get round to letting us play with them again!)

By the time it's ready for service, the Satsumas should be on the horizon (and if they're not by that time, the Inverness service is going to be in deep doo-doo)

[Edit]; I've still not seen anything as to when they're expecting to introduce them into service though, other than 'next year'

 

That's not to say it couldn't happen though as traction availability can be critical at times.

I'd expect though, like the 90s, it'd be limited to KGX - Newark / Leeds / York services as this would cut training requirements by more than half to just Kings X and Leeds depots (Newcastle's the largest and Edinburgh also has a substantial establishment).

Edited December 30, 2018 by Ken.W

[25901]

Why would they want 89001, they were offered Eurostars. Yes long in the tooth but fully operational but turned the option down and they are being sent to scrap

[DavidB-AU]

What would be the cost/operational advantage of the 89 over, say, 87002 and cascading something else onto ECS for Caledonian?

 

Cheers

David

[MarkC]

What would be the cost/operational advantage of the 89 over, say, 87002 and cascading something else onto ECS for Caledonian?

 

Cheers

David

The 89 can run at 125mph; the 87 only100 (110?) mph.

 

Also, as mentioned upthread, the 89 can run with the Mk 4 stock; I don't think that 87002 can.

Edited December 31, 2018 by MarkC

[DavidB-AU]

I thought 89001 only ran at 110mph in service? Several books quote that speed.

 

Cheers

David

[Ragtag]

Would love to see it, especially if it tempted the model manufacturers!

[Titan]

I thought 89001 only ran at 110mph in service? Several books quote that speed.

 

Cheers

David

 

The Class 89 holds the distinction of being the only Co-Co permitted to run at 125mph in Britain.